Ventilation units, or tertiary air conditioners control room temperatures in large residential structures and commercial units such as offices and shops. There are a large variety of air conditioners that are used for both heating and cooling, utilising a variety of technologies.

The annual electricity consumption of these products was estimated at 77.6 TWh in the EU in 2010, equivalent to the entire residential electricity consumption of Spain.

At the same time, by using these products 2 570 PJ are saved for heating space. So in aggregate, the use of tertiary air conditioners generated annual energy savings of 1 872 PJ (primary energy) in 2010, equivalent to the energy needed to cover 26% of the EU’s residential electricity needs.

What’s the European Union doing?

EU-wide Ecodesign and energy labelling regulations for residential ventilation units (RVUs) and non residential ventilation units (NRVUs) were published in November 2014, with staged Ecodesign requirements becoming effective on 1st January 2016 and 2018. Separate requirements apply for RVUs and NRVUs. In addition, an Energy Label was adopted for RVUs entering into force in 2016, with energy classes ranging from A+ to G. A review of the Ecodesign measure has been set for January 2020, with a specific clause to assess requirements on theair leakage rates by January 2017.